Readers sound off on horses, the Saudis and Jimmy Breslin

It’s time to safely retire the horses

Brooklyn: Anyone with a modicum of sensitivity to animals feels the palpable wrongness of the beleaguered horses being forced to spend their days lined up in chaotic traffic on Central Park South. The industry should have been put to bed decades ago, but since it persists despite the endless, earnest pleas of so many thoughtful and concerned activists over the years, I applaud NYCLASS for urging the city to do the bare minimum and get them out of traffic for a good portion of their work. What a gift it will be to not have to view them baking in the sweltering sun in midsummer, sadly waiting to line the pockets of the misguided drivers.

When humanity looks back on this, they will shudder because they didn’t grasp so much sooner what was fair for these sensitive animals. It’s a mystery how the small band of heartless drivers have the power to continually prevent what is right, which is to make money off their own strengths and skills and not that of captive, broken animals. Let’s get this change in place already so we can at the very least know the horses are enjoying some small amount of beauty and peace in the park while they trudge through their bleak existences. Jessica Hollander

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Leave them in the park

Manhattan: I am shocked to see the horse-drawn carriage industry fighting the city’s proposal to move their boarding areas off of congested 59th St. and into Central Park. As a Manhattan resident, I frequently drive along Central Park South for work. Horse carriages are often double-parked, causing congestion and making it difficult for drivers to maneuver around them. I regularly witness carriage drivers making illegal U-turns directly into traffic to get back to their current boarding area. This is a terrible situation for both for the horses and motorists. Just a few weeks ago a horse collapsed on Columbus Circle. Earlier this year, a horse carriage collided with a car on Central Park South, sending three people to the hospital. It seems like a no-brainer to move the boarding areas inside the park, which is now car-free! Kirk Miller

Saudis are not our friends

Floral Park: President Trump might feel that they are our “friends,” but I am sure the rest of America feels differently. There is no doubt that they murdered Jamal Khashoggi and are now looking to cover it up. TV news shows the 15 Saudi hit men arriving at the Turkish airport. It is no coincidence that among the 19 terrorists that murdered 3,000 people on Sept.11 there were 15 Saudis. Yessir, the Saudi government knows how to kill people. They supplied Osama Bin Laden with the money and men to fly into the World Trade Center on that fateful day. To hell with the Saudi oil; we have our own right here in America. The Saudi government hates America because of our culture, our values and everything we stand for. They have proven this fact on Sept.11, 2001. Ed Rankin

Rogues in the spotlight

Elmhurst: President Trump is still sustained by the argument that the Saudis did not take part in the dismemberment and death of writer Jamal Khashoggi. The argument that it was done by a rogue faction makes abundant sense when you factor in the political implications. Notwithstanding, the audio leaves something to be desired. James League

Ending a fowl practice

Cincinnati: Stephanie Taub fails to acknowledge that it is Jews (including rabbis) who are pleading with other Jews not to end the practice of atoning for their sins, but to switch to something (like money) to wave over their heads instead of sentient animals for this tradition (“Don’t be chicken; defend liberty,” Op-Ed, Oct. 17). Jews have a proud tradition of including non-human animals in their circle of compassion; it is one of many things that make us proud to be Jewish! In whose name are chickens being tortured? This is not being done in the name of my G-d! I will assume that those who are harming the chickens do not wish (for whatever reason) to accept the fact that they are causing these animals to suffer tremendously, so I ask them to therefore reconsider this practice because others view birds as sentient beings. In this day and age of increasing anti-Semitism, why in G-d’s name give fodder to others to cause harm to Jews. If other Jews are so incensed about this practice, how can we not expect others from the outside to be equally horrified? Jayn Brotman

Republicans and race

Staten Island: Voicer Filomena LaRusso states that many Republicans are white supremacists. Some facts to enlighten you. It was Southern and Northern Democrats who enslaved blacks. After the Civil War, Southern Democrats vehemently opposed the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments granting blacks civil rights. During that time frame it was the Republican Party that supported those Amendments. Moreover when Democrats returned to power in the 1870s, they — not the Republicans — passed and implemented the Jim Crow laws. During the 1940s, when President Truman wanted to integrate black and white troops, Strom Thurmond and his Democrats broke ranks and formed the Dixiecrat Party in opposition to Truman’s integration plans. Republicans have always been the friend of African-Americans. But Democrats, through guise, trickery and machinations, have labeled Republicans as “white supremacists.” Joseph Valente

Hurricane humor

Breezy Point: To Voicer Lynne Henderson: First of all, I did “get the point” of Sunday’s Cartoon Comment. Secondly, I don’t need to “get my priorities straight,” as you suggested. They are straight as an arrow, thank you. I just think it’s ridiculous and anything but funny to ask someone how it feels to have lost all their prized possessions, no less associate it with a cartoon. Do you have any prized possessions? If so, you should realize that. To Voicer Sheree Pelman: The headline “Not so Funny” was inserted by The News, not me, and anyone who thinks, “Let’s make today’s cartoon about victims of a devastating hurricane” has a warped sense of humor. John Carberry

Remembering Jimmy

Sayville, L.I.: With the recent naming of part of 42nd St. as Jimmy Breslin Way, I can’t help but think of how badly we need Breslin in his prime to cut through the lies and basest behavior of the party in power right now. Trump and his ilk would fold like a cheap suit under the spotlight of Breslin’s insightful wrath. He would make it a clear as crystal. As Jimmy often said, beautiful! Michael Hooker

Tickets that went right

Brooklyn: I would like to thank the Daily News very much for the two tickets to see “The Play That Goes Wrong.” The seats were fantastic and the play for so very very funny. I recommend that everyone see this play for a fun- filled night of sheer entertainment. Thank you again! Phyllis Croswell